Book Review for Nineteen Letters by Jodi Perry

NINETEEN LETTERS
by JODI PERRY

Braxton

Nineteen. There’s something about that number; it not only brought us together, bonding us forever, it also played a hand in tearing us apart.

The nineteenth of January 1996. I’ll never forget it. It was the day we met. I was seven and she was six. It was the day she moved in next door, and the day I developed my first crush on a girl.

Exactly nineteen years later, all my dreams came true when she became my wife. She was the love of my life. My soul mate. My everything. The reason I looked forward to waking up every morning.

Then tragedy struck. Nineteen days after we married, she was in an accident that would change our lives forever. When she woke from her coma, she had no memory of me, of us, of the love we shared.

I was crushed. She was my air, and without her I couldn’t breathe.

The sparkle that once glistened her eyes when she looked at me was gone. To her, now, I was a stranger. I had not only lost my wife, I had lost my best friend.

But I refused to let this tragedy be the end of us. That’s when I started to write her letters, stories of our life. Of when we met. About the happier times, and everything we had experienced together.

What we had was far too beautiful to be forgotten.

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REVIEW: 3.5 HEARTBREAKING STARS

"Everything was so new to us back then, and in a way, it's the same now. It's a new beginning. A chance to relive all the magic we once shared."

This was my first book by Jodi (JL) Perry, and I hope to say it won't be my last. She definitely had an ability to bring some emotions out of me. Not always were they kind ones, but she definitely told a story that I wanted to see through to the end. This book was an emotional ride from the beginning to the end, and by the time I was done, I was so glad I took the time to read it. It was beautiful.

I WILL BE HONEST: first and foremost, it took me a bit of time to start warming up to Jemma. I literally HATED her in the beginning days/months after the accident. I didn't get fear or vulnerability, I got rudeness and harshness. I didn't get her seeking answers to her questions, I found her avoiding everything and being so down when everyone was trying to help her. Now before I sound like a raving lunatic with no heart, please understand that I did understand that she was going through a traumatic event, but I eventually found peace with her and I found myself sympathizing with her a little more. But in the beginning, I most certainly did not. I almost felt that the order of emotions delivered by Perry was backwards and I wished we would have been able to fall in love with her, to be endeared to her plight, her fear, her uneasiness with the life that she was handed, but instead we got the rude, nasty, and quite disrespectful side of her BEFORE we were able to fall in love with her, so I already had a predisposition to not like her. I know, I sound like an evil wretched bitch. I don't mean to, I promise you that. Logically, I understood why she was upset and was quite closed in. I really do, but it was just hard to get warm fuzzies from her originally. However....she grew on me.

Please don't take this review as one long rant, because there were some amazingly beautiful parts that were breath-catching. I hate that I was so frustrated in the beginning by this one, and I am not entirely sure why I felt that way.  I know for a fact that this one was an "It's me, not you" scenario because, if I think about the reality behind the story, it was heartbreaking. It was raw. I felt his pain and his yearning. I felt his need and his desperation to make her remember him, remember their love, and to remember their life together. They were destined to be together, and there was no doubt in my mind that he wasn't going to give up until he was able to share that with her. I loved seeing that they made new memories, while he was trying to give her back her old memories. It was two-fold and I loved that aspect of it. I made mention a few times to some others I was discussing this with that Braxton was 100% the reason I kept reading this book. His letters and his dedication to her were everything to me. He was the definition of perfect. If I had the entire book in his POV, it would have easily been a 5 star read for me. I just really wish I warmed up to Jemma quicker. I truly do.

I found myself questioning why there were so many side stories that Perry went into great depth on when the main story was enough to keep me interested. This made for a long-winded book for me. I love meeting the supporting characters, because they are what keeps the story progressing sometimes, but when we dwell on some of the side stories instead of the main couple, it's takes away some of the focus for me. I also think the hardest part about some of the side stories were that they were almost eye-roll worthy too. The reason for her parent's break up? Um, just what? I wanted to scream *overboard*, but that wasn't my emotion to have I suppose. And the miscommunication between Brax and Jem didn't make sense after every single thing he had been doing for her....on both sides. Why didn't he explain better and why did she feel that way when he did everything for her? I am a big opponent of drama just for drama's sake, and these felt like they were added in for no reason. 

I'm very thankful I stuck this one out, even though I struggled with my rating a little bit. After the first letter, I was starting to warm up. I already knew I loved Braxton, and Perry did an amazing job letting us fall in love with him and the love he had for Jemma. He was an amazing man and Jemma was so lucky to have him in her life. So very lucky. Loves like theirs are rare to come by, and that part of the book made me feel all the love in the world. I honestly loved his letters and his POV the most. I loved Braxton. I loved his love for her. I loved his determination. I loved his heart. He was such a good man. Beautiful story, and one that I will easily recommend. It truly was a heartwarming and beautiful story. This one will stick with me for a long time to come. The concept was amazing. The story was a great one. 

ODD NOTE: I did not like the fact that she used 'apostrophes' for the dialogue where "quotations" were necessary. It was rather awkward and it caused me to have to re-read sentences because I missed the beginning of the dialogue. It made for a rough read at first (until I got used to it) because it just wasn't right to my eyes. I'm not sure if the grammar and punctuation rules are the same down under, and I realize there are different norms there than here. But I got used to it.....I think it was just the whole, once one thing starts to bother you, all the little things do too, if that makes sense. I'm sure that was the case here. This did NOT negatively impact my review at all. It was just a personal bug for me. I loved reading all the different words used that we don't use here. I had to ask a friend what a few were! I loved that part.

"What we had is far too beautiful to be forgotten."
~BEE

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~MEET JODI PERRY~

Jodi Perry is a wife and mother, and was born in Sydney, Australia. She has lived there her whole life. Under the name J. L. Perry, her previous four novels have all been #1 bestsellers in ebook: BASTARD, HOOKER, JAX, and THE BOSS. Foreign rights in BASTARD have been sold to Hungary and France where BASTARD was recently a Top 20 amazon ebook bestseller. Jodi travels annually to the UK and US to promote her books at romance events and to meet her readers. Her other titles include Luckiest Bastard, My Destiny, My Forever, Damaged and Against All Odds. NINETEEN LETTERS is her tenth novel, and debut under the name of Jodi Perry.

~CONNECT WITH JODI~

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ARC REVIEW

Book Review and Giveaway for Frayed Silk by Ella Fields

FRAYED SILK

by ELLA FIELDS

Our marriage wasn't just in trouble—mere threads were all that held it together.

What was once my perfect happily ever after had dissolved right before my eyes.

I can tell you when it started to happen.
What I can't tell you is why. 

And after seven months of watching my husband turn into someone I didn't recognize, I'd given up hope in finding answers.

So I decided to break his heart
... and he did nothing to stop me.

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REVIEW: 4 "Only Ever You" STARS
"My eyes beg him for things my mouth is sick of asking for."

I love finding a new to me author that can speak to me. One that can tell a story that hijacks my mind and makes me feel what is going on in a book with just their words. And if you know me, this synopsis immediately grabbed me. This book was the perfect introduction to Ella Fields for me and I am SO happy I read it! This book had a very well thought out storyline and some heartache to boot! Not too angsty, but there was a good dose of it in there, and we all know how much I love angst. <sigh> Happy reader here. 

I know we all like different genres, but I especially love a cheater/triangle love story that is told with depth and emotion. I was shocked at how this one affected me the way it did, to be completely honest. It was an emotional take on one woman's struggle through her confusing emotions and her battered mentality, to come to grips with what was happening in her marriage. Her feelings were raw and legit for what was going on. She was easily understood in her heartache, but I was also very angry at some of her actions, justified or not. She was an emotional mess, which made her decisions that much more reckless....and that's what I love about a book like this. Because it happens. It's real. Emotions get taken advantage of, your mind and heart do NOT speak to each other, and you begin to question reality. Again, these actions were the catalyst for the story and everything meshed so well to tell the story, but it definitely led to some angry thoughts. Having said that, I think one of my favorite things about this book was the fact that it was told entirely in a single POV. Reading it that way allowed me to sink into and feel everything Lia was going through; the pain, the anguish, the desperate need to feel loved again. It was the perfect way to tell this story, and what a story it was.

LOOKING IN: This was such a sad world to be peeking in on; watching an emotionally wrought woman while she desperately tries to save her sanity and her marriage. But it begged the question: at what cost? What order of responsibility did she owe herself? Save herself, her sanity, and her kids? Save her marriage that was crumbling, quite rapidly, right in front of her, no matter what she did? Or should she save herself, move forward and pick up the pieces since there was no fight left? It was a heavy read; it was even a sad read at some points. But man, it was a goooood read. I really enjoyed this one a lot.

I have to say, I absolutely, unequivocally fell in love with Leo, her husband. The twist broke my heart in this book, but it made me see him in a whole new light. I understood his actions. I understood his pain. But Lia and Leo had a love that did not have an expiration date. They needed to fight for what they knew was true in their hearts. It was a journey, one that I needed to take with them and feel alongside them. I. Loved. This. Story.

REAL TALK: In the beginning, I had a very hard time with the way the scenes just abruptly ended; there wasn't any follow through. A big fight would happen and then nothing was done, we'd just move on. The angst would be building perfectly, the tension would be mounting and then.....nothing. It would just quit. It made for choppy feelings in some parts and made me pause for thinking. But after reading the entire book, I understood exactly why she did that. It aided in the storytelling, added a bit of intrigue, but in the beginning, it was a rough start for me. So please don't let that stop you....push through it and keep going. This one was truly a great story and I can't wait to discuss it.

This one also took me a little longer to read. Once or twice I was able to put it down and walk away, but not because it was bad. Gosh, no. I wasn't completely taken in the beginning because, while it was a new voice for me, it was also a new cadence. It flowed just fine, but it was still an adjustment period for me. The synopsis piqued my interest immediately, so that wasn't an issue for me. I was able to walk away at first, but not completely. My mind was still held captive. I thought about the story the entire time I was away, busying myself with my thoughts while I debated what was happening. It drew me back each time, and I am so glad I finished this one. Look, I know cheating is a trigger for some and it pisses off many readers, but it doesn't for me. Not even a little bit, because I'm a firm believer that there are always three sides to every story: yours, theirs and the truth. But when cheating is the drive, the catalyst for the emotions in the book, I like to look at the reasons, the circumstances, the emotions that are happening during the book so I can better understand the WHY. And Ella told this story with all that in mind. All my questions were answered. It felt real. It felt heartbreaking and true. I love the intricacies of cheating/triangles, and why the heart gets so caught up when the mind isn't always on board. The why is what drives me to seek answers. I love that part and I loved that about this book.

I will say this much; this quote right here summed up the emotions in the story for me quite literally. It was a passage that made me pause because after seeing what Lia and her husband went through, this just spoke to me. It doesn't give anything away, but it makes you think:

Memories are funny things. Some are so palpable that you feel as if you’re right there, experiencing everything all over again. The scents, tastes, the weather, the sliding of skin on skin, and the feelings that made your heart swell double in size. 

Whereas others flit away, like cast off threads in your mind, feeling forever out of reach. Forgotten. Until one day, they decide to unravel from your conscience and knock you sideways by taking you back. Back to someplace you’d give anything to forget, or that you’d sell a piece of your soul to revisit just one more time. 

~BEE

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~MEET ELLA FIELDS~

Ella Fields is a mother and wife who lives in the land Down Under. While her kids are in school, you might find her talking about her characters and books to her two cats. She's a notorious chocolate and notebook hoarder who enjoys creating hard-won happily ever afters.

~CONNECT WITH ELLA~

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ARC REVIEW

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Review for Perfectly Imperfect by Harper Sloan

PERFECTLY IMPERFECT

by HARPER SLOAN

Mirror, mirror ... who's the fairest of them all?

I still cringe when I hear that line. A fairy tale that had girls pretending they were the fairest, the most beautiful, and the most entitled. A fairy tale most couldn't grow out of turned my haunted childhood memories into a living nightmare. Girls who grew up believing that pile of garbage became the meanest of all 'mean girls.'

And those mean girls were right ­ it was a line meant for all the beautiful people in the world ­ and I knew the answer would never be me.

The women with long legs, flat stomachs, and perfect chests.

The type of women Kane Masters gravitated toward.

Well, that's definitely not Willow Tate.

No. That will never be me.

Because I'm completely imperfect.

And ... I hate myself.

I have no idea what Kane could possibly see in someone like me when he could have them.

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REVIEW: 4.5 STARS

Ummm.....Just wow!

Impressive....amazing....captivating. I am not sure I will be able to put into words how remarkable this book was. It was a moving story of an emotionally battered, but strikingly beautiful young lady. We all want a strong heroine.....we always complain when the heroine isn't strong enough or is run over in many books out there. Well, this one had a very real twist. One that we don't really get to see in today's books. This book will be talked about for a while. Mark my words. Harper Sloan has set herself apart in this one.

I know this book may not be to everyones liking because it is about a woman that has just been emotionally beaten down over the years and has no self esteem or confidence, to the point that she has hit absolutely rock bottom. She tries...but then it's taken all away again. Repeatedly. To watch her come into herself and grow, while still having very REAL doubts, allowed us all to connect on a level that we don't normally get to. I had to stop reading this book many times. Not because it was bad or slow, but because I had to stop and think how it was affecting ME. The very REAL message behind what was going on....and how it can, and probably, will be perceived.

We have all read the books of the pretty girls that don't know they are pretty. Tall, statuesque....beautiful, but they just don't know. I love those stories. We all LOVE to put ourselves in those shoes and live the story through our own eyes. But this story, THIS one, pushed those boundaries and made you see the story through HER eyes and heart. But this story had an average sized woman that was not the normal status quo to someone else's idea of sexy, finding an honest and true love in the mix of all things awful. This story provided a lot of real life suffering: pain, embarrassment and mental anguish. We touched it all. But the most beautiful thing was....we got to experience love with her. So beautiful. I shake my head....how do you FEEL words like this? *sigh*

I really wish I could say something remarkable that would just make you go, "Yep, I need to read this!" But I am sure my words will fail me.  I highlighted more in this book than I have an any other book this year. A LOT. This book was a really good mix of fighting to get up and accept that you are loved for WHO you are and serious sexy times. My gosh....Kane has got to be my new book boyfriend. He was pure perfection....in every way. I am so in love with him.  Kane had a look in his eyes that told Willow everything she needed to know....and a searing touch to back it up with. He makes me giddy!!! He is a good man that could read his woman well.

Willow was surrounded by some amazing friends, and the cast of friends in this book rivals any others out there. Kirby was phenomenal, Eddie made me laugh and Kane made me swoon. HARD. Please grab this book....and please read it. I think it will resonate with a lot of women....it puts into words how we feel from time to time. We all have our own insecurities...every one of us has something inside of us that allows us to relate to Willow on some level. It is a beautifully heartwarming book. I am so in love with this book. This one will sit on my signed bookshelf soon.

"And while I will never be perfect....I will be imperfect and rock it perfectly."

Remember, I have a giveaway on the FACEBOOK post I posted my review on. Enter there!!!

Perfectly Imperfect,

Bee

#iAmWillow

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~MEET HARPER SLOAN~

Harper lives in small town Georgia just a short drive from her hometown of Peachtree City. She (and her 3 daughters) enjoy ruling the house they dubbed 'Estrogen Ocean', much to her husband’s chagrin. Harper has a borderline unhealthy obsession with books; you can almost ALWAYS find her with her eReader attached. She enjoys bad reality TV and cheesy romantic flicks. Her favorite kind of hero­­the super alpha kind!

Harper started using writing as a way to unwind when the house went to sleep at night; and with a house full of crazy it was the perfect way to just relax. It didn't take long before a head full of very demanding alphas would stop at nothing to have their story told.

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Book Review for Drunk Dial by Penelope Ward

DRUNK DIAL

by PENELOPE WARD

It seemed like a good idea at the time. Look up Landon Roderick, that boy from childhood whom I’d never been able to forget—even though he so easily forgot about me—and call him.

Then again, anything sounds like a good idea when you’ve had a little too much wine before bed, right? It was supposed to be just a quick, meaningless, prank call. Instead, I went off on him—unloading thirteen years of pent-up emotions.

I didn’t think he’d call me back.

I certainly could never have anticipated the weeks of sexually tense phone conversations that followed as I got to know the man he’d become.

Turned out, Landon had never really forgotten me, either. That special connection we had was still there. I opened up to him, but there were also things about me he didn’t know. And he had his own secrets.

Over the countless hours we talked on the phone, I wondered what would happen if we actually saw each other. One night, I did something impulsive again. Only this time, I went to the airport and booked a ticket to California. We were about to find out if one phone call could bring two lost souls together or if my drunk dial really was all just a big mistake.

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REVIEW: 2 STARS

SO, I REALIZE that I won't have a common rating....and this review won't be one of a popular opinion. I understand that, and I respect that, but I've always prided myself on the honesty in my reviews no matter how against the grain I am. My reviews are my personal opinion only, and I will always be as respectful as possible. With that being said, this book wasn't my favorite by Penelope Ward. I have read others I have enjoyed, but this one missed the mark for me.

I wish I could say the words flowed, but for me, they had a staccato rhythm to them and were pieced together. Abrupt. Short. Words. They just didn't flow, which didn't help the overall flow of the story for me. Many emotions and actions felt very forced, for the lack of a better word. I also felt like I was being told what was happening, and I was on the outside looking in. That is one of my biggest pet peeves for a book that is supposed to be really emotional. Many times, an author's words take you away, lift you up and you just move with the words/emotions/actions of the storyline. I felt no emotion, no attachment, no drive from the words in this story at all, and that saddened me more than anything else. This story had the ability to be amazing. The scenario itself? I could see where she was taking this book. I loved the idea of a reconnection for a second chance romance. Unfortunately, the scenario, the characters, the drama.....it was made up mostly of eye-roll-worthy happenings. In reality, it just didn't gel for me. 

First and foremost, Rana was the most annoying heroine I have read all year. And I don't say that lightly. I don't mean any disrespect because I would hate to have my reviews picked apart, just as an author would hate to have their books picked apart. But this one took the cake. She was jealous for NO reason AT ALL for anything and everything that had NOTHING to do with her in any way. She basically told him she forgives him for his mistakes and everyone makes them, yet there was no forgiveness due by her. And who is to say it was a mistake what Landon did? I was literally fuming....she was judging when he was lost. I just didn't get it. She was insecure, but 'fixed' the issues, yet she was STILL insecure. She hid behind her insecurity in many scenes, but in other scenes, she seemed to be just fine. It was a weird dynamic to her as a whole. Landon was a super possessive guy, and we all know how much I love those kinds of men. The more possessive, the better, in my opinion. I love them all. His seemed outta whack for me, but he didn't annoy me like Rana did. There was a serious helping of cheesiness in this book, but you can generally look past it. 

I felt like I was just getting madder and madder at the drama, the happenings going on in the book. I highlighted so many things that made me roll my eyes, or say "huh?" because there was just so much. I love the Vi/Pen duo, and that writing always seems flawless....it just flows effortlessly. But why didn't this book work for me? It was petty. Contrite. Immature. Selfish. It was not emotional at all for me. Sure, I read those words, but there was zero connection and zero feelings. I've actually somewhat been in Rana's position before, so I should have been able to relate at least a little bit....and yet, I just couldn't. She grated on my nerves. I don't want to say that. I actually hate saying it. I'm not being rude, but feeling sadly disappointed. 

Were there any outside mitigating factors that would have offended my thoughts on this book? I honestly asked myself that. I didn't want to be the only one that just didn't enjoy this book. Hate is a strong word, but it's a valid one for this book...I hated Rana.  

I realize the ramifications of leaving an honest, but negative review, so please don't blast me. I love reading and reviewing, but this one just didn't work for me. But I have to be honest. I've prided myself on my honesty on every book review I've ever done, negative or not. It's always an honest opinion. Never disrespectful, but always based on my feelings about the book and the characters. I could only discuss so much so that I wouldn't give away any of the plot so as to not take away from anyone else's reading enjoyment.

I'm so sad that I felt this way.....beyond sad. I just didn't enjoy this one at all. It got to the point that the actions and drama became comedic in a sense. 

~BEE

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~MEET PENELOPE WARD~

Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author. She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor, before switching to a more family-friendly career. She is the proud mother of a beautiful 11-year-old girl with autism and a 9-year-old boy. Penelope and her family reside in Rhode Island. 

~CONNECT WITH PENELOPE~

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Book Review and Giveaway for Royally Endowed by Emma Chase

ROYALLY ENDOWED
by EMMA CHASE

Logan St. James is a smoldering, sexy beast. Sure, he can be a little broody at times—but Ellie Hammond’s willing to overlook that. Because, have you seen him??

Sexy. As. Hell.

And Ellie’s perky enough for both of them.

For years, she’s had a crush on the intense, gorgeous royal security guard—but she doesn’t think he ever saw her, not really.

To Logan, Ellie was just part of the job—a relative of the royal family he’d sworn to protect. Now, at 22 years old and fresh out of college, she’s determined to put aside her X-rated dreams of pat-downs and pillow talk, and find a real life happily ever after.

The Queen of Wessco encourages Ellie to follow in her sister’s footsteps and settle down with a prince of her own. Or a duke, a marquis…a viscount would also do nicely.

But in the pursuit of a fairy tale ending, Ellie learns that the sweetest crushes can be the hardest to let go.
***
Logan St. James grew up on the wrong side of the tracks, in a family on the wrong side of the law. But these days, he covers his tattoos and scars with a respectable suit. He’s handsome, loyal, brave, skilled with his hands and…other body parts.

Any woman would be proud to call him hers.

But there’s only one woman he wants.

For years he’s watched over her, protected her, held her hair back when she was sick, taught her how to throw a punch, and spot a liar.

He dreams of her. Would lay down his life for her.

But beautiful Ellie Hammond’s off-limits.

Everybody knows the bodyguard rules: Never lose focus, never let them out of your sight, and never, ever fall in love.

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REVIEW: 4 STARS
"Love isn't a cure; it doesn't magically solve every problem. But it makes solving those problems worth it."

THIS BOOK was everything I needed in Logan and Ellie's book. EVERYTHING. Major swoonage from Logan on all corners of this one. <sigh> I was so ready for their story, but I was also very scared. You know how you hype up something in your head that you have been looking forward to and then it's a total letdown? Yeah....that was this book for ME. I wanted this one SO bad because we met them in Royally Screwed and there was a story there. And thank gosh, it was WONDERFUL!

If you missed my review for Royally Screwed, you can read it HERE. It's spoiler free, but I sure did want Logan's story from the get-go. Now, if you read this as a standalone, you won't be missing out. I think, personally, that Emma Chase did an excellent job with this one, laying the foundation that we got in the first two books. The timeline was laid out and we definitely made up for lost time in this one. Would I recommend you read the first two books? Absolutely yes. I have enjoyed this entire series and easily recommend it. But not just that, it's the "in the moment" feeling you get when you live through Nicholas and Henry's stories that you get to feel instead of just jumping into this one.

I am honestly at the point that I can just say READ THIS BOOK. If you want a fun and exciting read about a palace romance, this one I can easily recommend. I read and loved it. Ellie was just a badass from the very beginning, but when you add quirky to that badassery, you get some hilarious times with a mouth that has absolutely NO filter. I really enjoyed that about Ellie because she really lived life to the fullest....LEMONS and all. And Logan? Yes, yes....all sorts of yesses. I wanted to sink my teeth into him! There was a very amicable, but awkward comfortableness between these two characters. It was like second hand....normal. It was their relationship from the very beginning, and I think that's why I loved them so much. Nothing was expected, nothing was explained, but everything was cohesive and worked because it was supposed to.

The nice (or weird for me) thing about this book was I made ZERO notes while reading this book. I usually make notes along the way just so I have something to go back on, for my review, and work off of. In this one, I just....didn't? It was weird. I read this one straight through and highlighted very little, but was intrigued the entire time. There was some drama in this book that under normal circumstances I would have rolled my eyes over. Seriously, not my cuppa. But being royals, being the subject of a country's curiosity, the drama made sense. There was a lot going on, and we had the very necessary use of a bodyguard in this one and Logan was just the man. Yummy!

For the END of a series, this book was most perfect in every way and that EPILOGUE was so good!! We got to peek in on Nicholas and Olivia, as well as Henry and Sarah, all the while getting Logan and Ellie's story. I liked that aspect a lot! We toggled between being the aggressor and the nonchalant one on both sides....HAHA! When one is denying or questioning their feelings, the other is pushing, and vice versa. I enjoyed the give and take these two had, but Ellie made is comical. Such a great book!

"Love is our inspiration, our motivation....and our reward."
~BEE

THE ROYALLY SERIES:

ROYALLY SCREWED: http://amzn.to/2m6ft4X

ROYALLY MATCHED: http://amzn.to/2m6iL8m

ROYALLY ENDOWED: http://amzn.to/2lEnDAI

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EXCERPT

Ellie

But then the mood shifts, as if the air becomes thicker, weighted, more . . . sultry. 

Because slowly, Logan sinks down to one knee in front of me—looking in my eyes the whole time. In this position, I could touch his shoulders, comb my fingers through his thick, dark hair. He’s the perfect height for me to bend down and kiss his mouth—the perfect height for him to kiss me back . . . in a lot of places.

My breath hitches. And I wonder he feels it too.

There’s a sound of tearing Velcro, and Logan takes something off his ankle—a holster, with a small silver knife, about three inches long.

“Keep this on you all the time,” he says seriously. “Just in case. If you wear a skirt, the strap will fit around your thigh.”

And I almost laugh. Most girls get a ring from a guy on his knees. I get a murder weapon. But still, it makes me feel safe . . . watched over. Like I’m something precious that deserves to be protected.

I take the knife from him, testing the surprisingly solid, heavy weight of it in my hand. I press my index finger to the tip.

Logan grabs my wrist tightly. “Careful. It’s sharp.”

There’s a small, painless nick, a tiny bead of blood, so I put my finger in my mouth, sucking.

And Logan’s watching me again.

Watching my mouth.

His chest seems to rise just a little faster, and his throat ripples when he swallows. He bends his head, curves his strong back, and then I feel his hands on my ankle, securing the strap. His touch is warm and self-assured. It’s the way he always moves—confident and experienced. Logan knows his body and he knows how to use it, in every way possible.

I almost moan. The sound is in the back of my throat, but I keep it trapped. I never knew the ankle was an erogenous zone, but it sure as hell is now. A hot pulse of pleasure streaks from Logan’s fingers on my bare skin, up my thigh, between my legs.

And I throb there, growing swollen and heavy as he keeps his hands on me.

Can he tell? Does he know? He’s so aware of everything, always so attuned, I wonder if he can sense my arousal . . . feel it in the air that clings between us.

~MEET EMMA CHASE~

Emma Chase is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the hot and hilarious Tangled series and The Legal Briefs series. Emma lives in New Jersey with her husband, two children and two naughty (but really cute) dogs. She has a long-standing love/hate relationship with caffeine.

~CONNECT WITH EMMA~

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Excerpt for Drunk Dial by Penelope Ward

EXCERPT

After that evening, I hadn’t heard back from him for a few days.

Then, one night, a text came in from the same phone number I recognized as Landon’s. It was the first time he’d texted me.

I looked down to find he’d sent a photo.

I gasped.

It was a heavily tatted man set against the backdrop of the ocean at sunset. Oh, my. It was him—a selfie.

Fuck. Me. He was beautiful.

I wouldn’t have even known it was Landon were it not for the blue eyes I recognized instantly. The shaggy, caramel hair I remembered from the past was now a darker shade of brown and shorter, cropped closer to his head. His arms and his chest were inked, his body so perfect that if I squinted, it almost resembled carved stone.

I couldn’t stop looking at him. My eyes wanted nothing more than to explore the ridges and valleys of his stunning body.

Was this a cruel joke?

This was not Landon!

But, it was.

With my thumb and middle finger, I kept zooming in and out, examining the details of the ink across his chest and on his arms. There was really nothing sexier than a guy with perfect arms and a full sleeve tattoo.

Even though his lips seemed fuller than I recalled, they still curved into a familiar grin that oozed confidence. The eyes and that smile were the only traces of the boy I remembered. I wished I could’ve leapt through the screen to smell him, touch him.

“Hi, Landon,” I whispered, for a brief moment talking to the boy inside, not the man in front of me.

This Landon was the polar opposite of the Ivy League yuppie image previously in my head. The only thing the man pictured might have majored in was badassery. He looked like a rockstar, a rule breaker, displaying a sense of arousing danger—someone who must have had women from all walks of life drooling over him for the sheer fact that either they couldn’t have him or shouldn’t have him. It suddenly became clear why, as he’d alluded to, a woman might have been begging him for sex. That made me wonder if he had any secret tattoos in spots I wasn’t allowed to see.

God.

A fire was burning inside of me, and I knew it was my crush exploding into a full-blown obsession.

A self-conscious feeling came over me. If I was scared to show him a picture of myself before, now I was really hesitant.

The message that went along with the photo simply read:

Now show me you.

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DRUNK DIAL

by PENELOPE WARD

It seemed like a good idea at the time. Look up Landon Roderick, that boy from childhood whom I’d never been able to forget—even though he so easily forgot about me—and call him.

Then again, anything sounds like a good idea when you’ve had a little too much wine before bed, right? It was supposed to be just a quick, meaningless, prank call. Instead, I went off on him—unloading thirteen years of pent-up emotions.

I didn’t think he’d call me back.

I certainly could never have anticipated the weeks of sexually tense phone conversations that followed as I got to know the man he’d become.

Turned out, Landon had never really forgotten me, either. That special connection we had was still there. I opened up to him, but there were also things about me he didn’t know. And he had his own secrets.

Over the countless hours we talked on the phone, I wondered what would happen if we actually saw each other. One night, I did something impulsive again. Only this time, I went to the airport and booked a ticket to California. We were about to find out if one phone call could bring two lost souls together or if my drunk dial really was all just a big mistake.

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~MEET PENELOPE WARD~

Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author. She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor, before switching to a more family-friendly career. She is the proud mother of a beautiful 11-year-old girl with autism and a 9-year-old boy. Penelope and her family reside in Rhode Island. 

~CONNECT WITH PENELOPE~

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Book Review and Giveaway for Wicked Wish by Sawyer Bennett

WICKED WISH
by SAWYER BENNETT

Jorinda Pearce thought she did everything right – graduated from college, married her long-time sweetheart, established a career. But what does she have to show for it now? A degree she doesn’t use, a job she hates, and an ex-husband that broke her heart.

Looking for a long overdue adventure, Jorie takes a walk on the wild side and attends a masquerade event at The Wicked Horse Vegas. It’s exactly the escape she’s looking for, and even better, she can explore anonymously. Drawn to the man masked in black leather with the body of a god, Jorie finds the greatest pleasures of her life at the hands of a stranger.

Walsh Brooks is the most sought after man in The Wicked Horse. Sex is nothing but a game to him and he’s the type that will always leave at the end of the night without looking back. Unfortunately for Walsh, there’s no way he can walk away from the mysterious green-eyed beauty behind the mask of sapphire feathers, because he knows exactly who she is.

Jorie is his best friend’s little sister and there’s not another woman in the world that’s more off limits.

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REVIEW: 4 HOT STARS
"I like sex, and I don't rely on anything to get me in the mood."

I'm really positive this was the hottest one in The Wicked Horse series yet.....I'm sure of it. Wow!!! Holy shite!!! This book was HOT. Like...woah, HOT. It made me blush a few times, and that is HARD to do!! I really REALLY liked this one. HOT. Holy cow, did I mention it's hot? No? Dangit....remind me to do that.

Yowzers!! So Jori and Walsh seriously set the bar for the rest of the series for me. When I read a book in ONE sitting, that tells me something. But when I can read it, review it and still keep thinking about it afterwards, that says a lot. Jori and Walsh were all sorts of combustible. (I'm still saying wow in my head as I write this!!) They came together (no pun intended) and it was instant gratification for me. I felt their chemistry. I felt their need, their desire, their lust. I felt that connection they had that worked so well for them. So So So SOOOO sexy. Yummy.

Walsh was deliriously delicious in every aspect. Every one!! He was rich, he was built, he had a sizable member....laugh, I know, but it's in all the books -- so it's mentionable, right? HAHA! He had it going on for him, for sure. But for ONCE, I zeroed in on the heroine of a book. Seriously awkward for me, but I may have fallen in love with Jori! I liked that Jori didn't play the victim to her own circumstances. She owned her life and made it hers! She was SO spunky, and I liked that. She had a go-get-'em attitude, and I loved her ability to throw caution to the wind. She knew what she wanted and fought for that one. It may have been dirty; think PONY by Genuwine. Just saying....she worked it HARD. HAHAHA!!!

When there is mixture of tropes in the book like this one had, I don't think many can handle it as well as Bennett did. I loved the best friends little sister aspect hard core. LOVED that part. But she added in another little twist in there that I generally love, so that added a bit of tongue wagging for me, or lip biting too. It was buttoned up super fast, which sucked for me for the angst aspect (little devil, I know!), and there were some repetitive phrases/paragraphs, but the insane connection she and Walsh had was undeniable, and so the story flowed effortlessly for me. I loved their connection. I loved their relationship. I loved it ALL. Make sure to add Wicked Envy to your TBR HERE.

Bennett has the ability to write a story that keeps me coming back for more, every.single.time. It's the same premise!! The same naughty club!! But, I keep coming back for more.....that's the definition of a stalker. (Or insanity....but, you know, work with me.)

Psssst......this one was HOT.

"Panties off. Leave the rest on."
~BEE

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EXCERPT

Squaring my shoulders, I march into The Royale and head straight for the concierge desk. I haven’t been in this casino before. Hell, I haven’t been in hardly any of them. Sure, I’d only grown up about forty-five minutes away, but gambling and all-you- can-eat buffets held no interest to me.

From Micah bragging about his best friend over the years, I knew Walsh orchestrated the purchase of the land, then pulled together financing with two other partners to build this casino. It’s one of the most popular on the strip, boasting five-star dining, old-world elegance, and superior customer service. Again, all this from Micah, but honestly… I’m so proud of Walsh, too. We may have lost touch over the years, but I’ll never forget all the ways in which he acted as a big brother to me.

Ick.

Okay… that’s gross. Thinking of Walsh like a brother.

I scrub my mind clean of that thought and demand myself never to do that again.

Rather, I’ll never forget all the ways in which Walsh provided me friendship and support in my

formative years.

Yes… much better.

“Can I help you?” a man behind the concierge desk asks with a genuine and friendly smile. Not snooty as I would expect in a fancy hotel, and I guess that goes to the superior customer service The Royale strives for.

“Yes… hi,” I say as I nervously tuck my hair behind my ears on both sides. “I need to see Mr. Brooks. How do I go about getting access to his apartment?”

Micah told me some time ago that Walsh lives here.

The concierge never loses his friendly smile, but a single eyebrow arches high at my temerity.

“Oh, gosh,” I stammer. “That came out stalkerish. Mr. Brooks… I mean, Walsh… and I are longtime friends. He used to babysit me.”

“Your name?” the man asks as he pulls up something on his computer.

“Jorie Pearce.”

After a moment of scanning, he looks up at me. “Your name isn’t on the approved list.”

“Well, he’s not exactly expecting me.”

“I’m sorry, Miss Pearce,” he says with true regret in his voice. “But our policy is strict. No one gets up to the private penthouse without their name on the list.”

I lean on the desk with one elbow and lower my voice. “Just out of curiosity… are there any women on that list?”

The eyebrow shoots up again.

“No, wait,” I say hastily as I hold my palms toward him in a silent plea to not process my last request either mentally or on the computer. “That’s totally stalkerish, and I didn’t mean that.”

“Miss Pearce,” the concierge says, now with a hint of annoyance. “Perhaps you’d like to leave a message? I can get it up to Mr. Brooks today and he can call you.”

“No, I need to see him now,” I tell him firmly. “And I swear it’s not to cook a rabbit in a pot on his stove. Can you please just call up to his apartment?”

“That’s not our policy—”

“Look,” I snap as I lean across the desk slightly. “I’m a lifelong friend of Walsh’s. My brother is his best friend. We lost touch for a few years, but we ran into each other last night. I really need to talk to him about something that happened last night, and I’m not leaving this hotel until you call up to his apartment.”

The eyebrow doesn’t arch but it does draw inward to meet its match on the other side as he considers what I just said.

“I swear to you,” and here I pause to look at his name tag, “Bentley. Please just call him. He won’t be mad.”

With a sigh, he relents and picks up the phone receiver, punching in a five-digit number. After a pause, he says, “Mr. Brooks… I’m very sorry to disturb you, sir, but there’s a Miss Jorie Pearce here to see you. She says she’s a longtime friend.”

I watch as Bentley listens, but I can’t gauge what’s being said as his face remains blank. Finally, he says, “Very good, sir.”

I take this to mean I’ll be getting an escort to the penthouse suite, but Bentley replaces the receiver and says, “I’m sorry, Miss Pearce. But Mr. Walsh told me to tell you he’s busy and can’t receive you right now.”

My eyes narrow at Bentley. “I don’t believe you. Call back and let me talk to him.”

“I assure you, I just talked to him and that’s what he said.”

“Call him back,” I order as I point to the phone.

“I can’t,” he says almost with a wail. “If I do, he’ll fire me.”

Okay, that hits home. I don’t want to get anyone in trouble, so I say, “Fine. Give me just a moment.”

I take a few steps away from the concierge desk and pull my iPhone out. I shoot off a quick text to Micah. What’s Walsh’s phone number?

I wait a few moments, but I know Micah is awake in San Francisco at this hour. His phone is always on, and he never ignores a text from me.

He responds with the number before I can even start to tap my foot with impatience, adding on, Why?

I hate the lie, but I write back, Came to Vegas for the day. Thought I’d see if he could meet up for lunch. Haven’t seen him in years.

Cool, he writes back. Tell him I said, “what’s up, douche?”

I roll my eyes as I text back, Real mature. Love ya. Later.

After I save the number to my contacts, I open a new text to Walsh. Let me up to see you or I’m going straight back to The Wicked Horse to satisfy some further curiosities I have.

I hit send and then walk back to the concierge desk. I merely lean one elbow on it and watch Bentley with a silent smile. The phone rings about ten seconds after that.

Bentley’s eyes fly to mine as he listens, and then says, “Yes, sir. Right away.”

When he replaces the receiver, he says, “I’m to show you to the penthouse elevator.”

“Thank you, Bentley,” I say brightly.

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~ABOUT SAWYER BENNETT~

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, Sawyer Bennett is a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. Her husband works for a Fortune 100 company which lets him fly all over the world while she stays at home with their daughter and three big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn't have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.

Sawyer is the author of several contemporary romances including the popular Off Series, the Legal Affairs Series, the Last Call Series and the Carolina Cold Fury Hockey Series.

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